Computer breaks down, criminals pass through

Press, 19 August 1985, Page 33

Computer breaks down, criminals pass through

By NZPA staff correspondent Sydney When criminals or suspects fly in and out of Australia’s airports, the Customs Service computer tends to break down, preventing checks being made on whether they are wanted by the police. In the last 12 weeks, more than 60 suspects have slipped through customs fingers, and a Federal Police Union official says corruption in the Customs Service is behind the breaks. Mr Col Dorber told the Channel 10 News on Thursday and confirmed that the Customs Service’s airport computer regularly broke down as criminal figures passed through. “It appears to go down when both suspects and criminals are entering or leaving the country, therefore enabling them to escape detection,” he said.

“There does appear to be an element of corruption in the Customs Service.”

The Secretary of the Customs Officers’ Association, Mr Bob Spanswick, admitted that criminals might be entering Australia because of interference in the Customs computer system. Mr Dorber said that everyone entering or leaving Australia by air was subject to check by com-

puter. “The computer tells the officer whether the traveller is wanted for questioning by the police or Customs in Australia,” he said.

He said Federal police from all over Australia had said there appeared to be an excessive number of instances where the computer pass system used by Customs broke down “and simultaneously an increase in the number of suspects passing through.” “We are particularly concerned in view of recent incidents concerning the Trimbole family,” he told reporters. "Federal police have to rely on Customs to initiate inquiries. “Sometimes there has been a considerable delay in relaying information and suspects have often left the country or the airport by the time it is received.” Trimbole, named by the Steward Royal Commission as being heavily involved in the drugs trade with the “Mr Asia” syndicate, fled Australia in 1981 while wanted on charges of drug trafficking, murder, and forgery, and passed through all airport and security checks. Recently three members of his family passed through Sydney Airport without being questioned or searched. Mr Spanswick said he had

approached the Australian Customs Service Administration, “but unfortunately to date I have had no feedback about the problem I raised with them about excessive breakdowns and missing excessive people.” Asked if it was possible that the computer break-

downs were the result of corruption, Mr Spanswick said: “Yes, it’s possible.” A spokesman for the Industry and Commerce Minister, Senator John Button, who is responsible for Customs, said yesterday that inquiries were being made into the allegations.